Rim-collapsing tool



. J. C. THEBERATH.

RIM COLLAPSING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIO, 1920.

27215272222" AN 29 AW Patented Mar. 21, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. C. THEBERATH.

RIM COLLAPSING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1920.

' Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. THEBERATH, OF'CLEVELAN D, OHIO.

RIM-COLLAPSING- TOOL.

Application filed May 10,

T 0 all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH C. THEBERATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rim-Collapsing Tools, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices known as rim collapsing tools and it has for its primary object the production of a device of this character that may be quickly and conveniently applied to the rim, and easily actuated by a continuous movement of its operating handle in one direction to break the joint .be-. tween the rim ends, draw one end substantially radially inward beyond theplane of the other andoverlap it with respect thereto for a material distance, and finally lock the rim in such collapsed condition against accidental recoil toward which there is a strong tendency due to the high tension under which the rim is thus placed; and then, by a like movement of the operating handle in. a reverse direction, to retrace the fore: going steps and thereby expand the rim to its normal condition.

Further objects are to provide a tool of the foregoing nature that is very strong and durable; comparatively simple of construction; positive of operation; adjustable to rims of various sizes; and through which ample power may be created to handle the largest and stifi'est of rims at the expendi ture of comparatively slight physical exertion.

Other objects will become apparent as I proceed to describe the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, and notwithstanding the specific description of this embodiment, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the details thereof further than is required by the terms ofthe annexed claimsand the state of the prior art.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a rimhaving the tool applied thereto, the full lines showing the rim in normal condition, while the dotted lines show one end of the rim drawn inwardly beyond the plane of the other; Fig. 2 shows the rim collapsed and lockedin such condition by the tool, parts of the tool being broken away to reveal certain structural de- Speciflcation of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 21 1922.

1920. Seria1N o.' 380,049.

In general, the tool comprises a pair ofelements that areadapted to be clamped to the adjacent end portions of a transversely split rim, one element involving a rack, and the other supporting a pinion for cooperation with the rack and incorporating a guide for directing the course of the rack as it is actuated by the pinion to impart to the rim end to which the rack is attached an inward and then circumferential movement. While I have specified a rack and pinion, any elements cooperating to accomplish the same results are to be regarded as the full equiva:

lents thereof. 7 The rack, which is designated 1, is substantially L-shape'd and on its outer side, where its branches join, it is provided with a series of teeth 2.- For convenience of description, its longer and shorter branches willbe referred to as the oircumferential and radial? portions, 3' and 4, respectively. It will be noted that. the teeth dofnot extend to the end of the"radial portion; and that they terminate about midway of the circumferential, portion where the. rack is cut away to produce an elongated pocket 5. The rack is pivoted ona stud 10 between ears 11.0f a clamping jaw 12 toward and from which an opposed jaw 13 is movable along the protruding end of the stud, (see Fig. 3). The stud is flattened along one side,

as indicated at 14, and it may be explained that the aperture in the jaw 13 corresponds substantially to "the cross sectional shape of this portion ofthe stud so that appreciable relative angular movement is .prevented. The stud is shownas held against turning with respect. to jaw 12 by a pin 15. A thumb nut 16 is screwed onto the threaded outer end of stud 10 for actuating the clamp to secure it to one end of the rim designated R.

The foregoing parts constitute one of the elements hereinbefore referred to. The other is composed of a clamping jaw 20 that carries a pair ofside plates '21 and 22 between which the rack 1 extends for coopthe thickened outer end portions of the operating handle 29 (see Fig. 4). The pin-' ion has anenlarged tooth 30 and carries a pin 31 for engagement with a stop 32 that is journaled on the shaft 27 between the pinion and theside plate 22, the stop having a lug 33 on its inner end which plays within a;s egmental slot 84 in the inner face of the plate 22 (Fig. 5). This stop, through the engagement of pin 31 with it, limits the an gular movement of the pinion to something more than a complete circle, 1

Projecting from the plate 21 is a stud 40 that is shown as having its inner end se cured within an aperture of the plate by a pin 41. A clamping jaw 42 is applied to the stud 41 and is adapted to be adjusted therealon' by a thumb nut 43 screwed onto the three ed end of the stud. The jaw is held against angular movement upon the stud by the projecting end of shaft 27 which is engaged within a hole 44 of the jaw.

The method of connecting the device to the rim is obvious from the foregoing de scri tion. With the tool applied as in Fig. 1,- t e o crating handle 29 may be rotated inthe direction of the arrow to move the rack 1 inwardly along what may be rearded the radial portion 23 of the guide 3, such portion being so termed because its function is to restrict the movement of the end of the rim to which the rack is clamped to a substantially radial course. During this movement, the joint between the ends of the rim is broken and the latch 7 iswithdrawn from its'receiving slot or socket in the other end portion of the rim, the first mentioned end being forced away from and then drawn inwardly beyond the circumferential plane of the other end. The innerend of the radial ortion of the rack now engagesthe latera 1y extending portion 23" ot the guide, and, simultaneously therewith, thepi'nion starts meshing with the teeth on the circumferential; portion of the rack. During'the remainder of the rotation of the inion. the end of the rack is fed along the aterally extending branch 23" of the guide to impart to the run end to which. the rack is connected a circumferential movement. This action continues until the enlarged tooth 30 of the pinion enters the pocket 5 and engages the last tooth'of the rack and forces it beyond the radius of the pinion,

causing said toothto engage end-on with the enlarged toothof the pinion. This serves to block retraction of the rack by the recoil :tendency of the rim, the pinion being step ed in suchposition by the engagement i of its pin 31 withthe stop 32.

in its collapsed dition, we rim may be handled as roughly-as occasion requires without danger of its springing back to normal size. With therim in collapsed condition, the tire may be easily removed and replaced, after which a reverse rotation of the operating handle will return the parts to normal condition with the ends of the rim engaging and the latch r interlocked with its retaining slot or recess.

It may be explained that the initial operation of the tool is to actually separate'tlie rim ends by slightly expanding the rim; and this same situation prevailsat the final st p of the operation of the tool when returning therim to its normal condition. This makes the tool especially suitable for handling. rims having circumferentially extending in terlocking tongues and grooves at their abutting ends, an example of such being found in that type known as the Kelsey? means for. rotating the pinion, andmeans for restricting the rack to a given course of movement, the pinion having an enlarged tooth and the rack a cut-away portion through which theenlarged tooth is adapted to, swing and thus be brought into sjubstah:

tiall end-on engagement with the adjacent toot of the rack when" the rim' isin collapsed condition. 2. In a rim collapsing tool, the combinationof a pair of elements designed for attachment respectivelyto the opposite end portionsof a split rim, a rack connected'to onefelement, a pinion carried by the other element and wherewith the rack engages,

means for rotatingthe pinion, means for restricting theiack to a given course of movement,"the pinion having an enlarged tooth and the racka cut-away portion into which the enlarged tooth is adapted to swing and thus be brought intosuhstantially endon engagementwith the adjacent tooth of the rack when the rim s in collapsed con dition, and astop for limiting the rotation of the pinion;

' 3. In a rim collapsing tool, the combina- 1 tion of a-"elamp for attachment toone of the;

end portions of a splitrim, a rack pivotally connected to the clamp, a frame incorporating aclamp for attaching it to the otlief end.

the frame, means for-rotatingthe pinion," the rack comprising a so-called clrcumfer- 'ential portion and aso-called radial portion and-a guide carried by the frame andhavportion of the rim, apinion mounted within in portions corresponding tothe aforesaid' portions of" the rack and serving to maintain the rack in mesh with the pinion and guide it in its movement to draw the end of the rim to which the rack has connection substantially radially inwardly and then ciroumferentially to overlap it with respect to the other end portion.

4:. In a rim collapsing tool, the combination of a clamp for attachment to one of the end portions of a split rim, a rack pivotally connected to the clamp, a frame incorporating a clamp for attaching it to the other end portion of the rim, a pinion mounted within the frame, means for rotating the pinion, the rack comprising a so-called circumferential portion and a so-called radial portion, a guide carried by the frame and having portions corresponding to the aforesaid portions of the rack and serving to maintain the rack in mesh with the pinion and guide it in its movement to draw the end of the rim to which the rack has connection substantially radially inward and pansion in response to the recoil tendency of the rim.

5. In a rim collapsing tool, the combination of a pair of elements designed for attachment respectively to the opposite end portions of a split rim, .a rack connected to one element, a pinion carried by the other element and wherewith the rack engages, means for'rotating the pinion, and a guide on the pinion carrying element and wherewith the rack engages for restricting the rack to a. given course of movement whereby the end of the rim to which the rack has connection is caused to move inwardly and circumferentially.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSEPH C. THEBERATH. 

